§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions of 20 May 2002,Official Report, column 118W, on affordable housing, how many empty homes in each region have been empty for (a) less than 12 months and (b) over 12 months in each of the last 10 years. [61192]
§ Mr. Tony McNultyThe information requested is not collected centrally at regional level.
The number of Local Authority (LA) and Registered Social Landlord (RSL) empty homes in England that have been empty for (a) less than 12 months and (b) over 12 months for each of the last 10 years are set out in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Number of LA and RSL homes in England empty for (a) less than 12 months, (b) more than 12 months for each of the last 10 years Vacant for: (a) < 12 months (b) > 12 months Total vacant 1 April 2001 91,600 30,000 121,600 2000 96,100 28,600 124,700 1999 90,100 23,500 116,600 1998 99,200 20,700 110,900 1997 89,400 18,500 107,900 1996 86,000 17,100 103,100 1995 75,900 16,700 92,600 1994 74,600 15,900 90,500 19931 76,900 20,600 97,500 1992 67,500 22,100 89,600 1Figures for 1993 are unusually high due to many dwellings bought by RSLs towards the end of the financial year (1992–93) under the Housing Market Package. Notes:
Figures rouned to the nearest 100.
Sources
The Department's annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP) returns and the Housing Corporation's annual HAR 10 and Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR).
§ Brian CotterTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress and activities of the affordable housing unit with regard to its remit to provide more affordable homes. [60495]
§ Mr. Tony McNultyThe Affordable Housing Unit was established at the end of last year and is part of the Housing Directorate of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Its remit is to work with partners and stakeholders to significantly increase the supply of1394W affordable housing in high demand areas across the country over the next three years and to contribute to the development of policy on increasing housing supply. We expect to make a statement on policies and measures to improve the supply of affordable housing before the summer recess.
§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions of 26 February 2002,Official Report, column 1162W, on affordable housing, how many affordable housing units have been built in rural areas, broken down by region, in each year since 1997. [61198]
§ Mr Tony McNultyA regional breakdown of information provided in theOfficial Report, 26 February 2002, column 1162W, relating to affordable housing units completed with social housing grant and with local authority social housing grant respectively, is presented below:
1395W
Affordable Housing units built since 1997–98: Rural Authorities in England, by Region Units funded through Social Housing Grant: (a) Housing Corporation (b) Local Authority 1997–98 North East 368 11 Yorkshire 392 107 East Midlands 439 275 Eastern 1,000 736 London 0 0 South East 925 871 South West 1,517 896 West Midlands 401 360 North West 258 65 All Rural Authorities 5,300 3,321 1998–99 North East 184 0 Yorkshire 421 97 East Midlands 336 272 Eastern 835 474 London 0 0 South East 1,044 586 South West 1,339 697 West Midlands 269 213 North West 576 143 All Rural Authorities 5,004 2,482 1999–2000 North East 276 15 Yorkshire 187 121 East Midlands 434 290 Eastern 532 496 London 0 0 South East 581 431 South West 1,096 562 West Midlands 363 378 North West 462 87 All Rural Authorities 3,931 2,380 2000–01 North East 206 6 Yorkshire 412 56 East Midlands 342 320 Eastern 680 468 London 0 0 South East 662 369 South West 1,124 566 West Midlands 160 85 North West 406 140 All Rural Authorities 3,992 2,010 Notes:
Completions in respect of any schemes originally approved prior to 1996–97 with both Housing Corporation and Local Authority Social Housing Grant support will be counted under both headings, but cannot be distinguished.
Affordable housing schemes comprise those for rent (including Tariff, and Mixed Funded schemes); temporary social housing schemes (including MiniHag, and short-life housing); and shared or outright ownership schemes (including leasehold for the elderly).
Source:
Housing Corporation returns